The life and times of a motoring and motor rallying journalist in Scotland

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Rally - Citroen Racing 2017

Just a few
days after the Citroën C3 WRC concept car was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show,
Citroën Racing has announced the team line-up for the next two seasons of the
FIA World Rally Championship.

After confirming Kris Meeke and Paul
Nagle at the end of last year, the line-up has now been completed by Craig Breen and Scott Martin and Stéphane
Lefebvre and Gabin Moreau. Chairman of Abu Dhabi Racing, Sheikh Khalid Al
Qassimi will also be competing with his co-driver Chris Patterson at some
events in 2017.

At the start of the new season, the
team will enter two Citroën C3 WRCs: one for Kris Meeke and the other for
either Craig Breen or Stéphane Lefebvre, who will alternate driving duties. The
exact distribution of events to drivers will be announced at a later stage and
Citroën will start entering three cars as soon as possible. The FIA’s World
Motorsport Council recently decided it would let manufacturers enter three
cars, the top two scoring points towards the Manufacturers World Championship.

At some rounds of the 2017 World
Championship, a fourth Citroën C3 WRC will also be entered for Sheikh Khalid Al
Qassimi and Chris Patterson.

Bringing this season to a close Citroen
Racing have confirmed Meeke, Breen and Al-Qassimi will contest the Rally de
España (Mull weekend!) with Meeke, Breen and Lefebvre down to do Rally Wales GB
at the end of the month.

Yves Matton,
Citroën Racing Team Principal: “We had several scenarios regarding
the choice of our crews for the future. Kris Meeke was confirmed at the end of
last year and has become the natural leader of the team. As well as challenging
for the lead on each of his appearances in 2016, winning in Portugal and in
Finland, he has also done most of the development work for our Citroën C3 WRC.
In choosing two young crews to complete the line-up, I don’t think we can be
accused of having gone for the easy option. But this original solution is very
much aligned with Citroën’s mindset. And having seen them compete this season
for the Abu Dhabi Total WRT, we believe in the potential of Craig Breen and
Stéphane Lefebvre. They have the natural talent, motivation and work ethic to
win rallies. I would also say we are proud to take these young drivers – who
have been with the PSA Group for many years – up to the top level of the sport.
At the start of the season, we’ll have no choice but to have them take turns
behind the wheel in the second Citroën C3 WRC. However, as soon as possible,
our three crews will be starting each round. Sheikh Khalid Al-Qassimi is a true
ambassador for rallying in the Middle-East and we are very pleased to support
him in his approach.”